Truss



(No Model.)

G.v V. HOUSE.

TRUSS.

Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

'IIIIIIII/ l WITNESSES A TTOHNE Y8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE'V. HOUSE, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEXV YORK.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent NO. 593,474, dated November 9, 1897.

Application filed May 5, 1897- Seriel No. 635,108. (No model.)

T 0 all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE V. House, of Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a class of trusses in which an elastic andinflatable pad-bulb is provided and is held in place ona measurably yielding but substantial pad-holder upon one end of the truss-band.

This improvement has for its object to provide novel details of construction for a de vice of the indicated character, which afford increased efficiency and greatly improve the device in important particulars, as will hereinafter appear.

The invention essentially consists in the peculiar novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a front elevation of a truss-band in part, having the improvement applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional 'view essentially on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached plan view. of an adjustable pad-clamping plate and an adjustable latch-stud thereon, the latter being shown in section substantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a reverse plan view of the pad-clamping plate. Fig. 5'is a longitudinal sectional view of the pad-clamping plate and attached parts, taken essentially on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 6 6 in Fig. 4.

In carrying into effect the features of my present improvement in trusses A represents the pad-carrying end portion of a truss-band B, which is for a truss adapted to compress an abdominal rupture at one side of the patient. It may here be stated that it is contemplated to employ the features of invention which will presently be described either on single or double padded trusses, a dupliplate.

cation of parts being necessary when two rupsubstantial to insure efficient action-and neces- At the edge of thesary durability in service. semi-ovate bulb 10 a flat flange 11 is formed, which flange proj ects inwardly, thereby affording a seat for the base-plate 12. As shown in Fig. -2, the base-plate 12 consists of a thin planchet of any suitable material and is ovate in contour and of such relative dimen- .sions that it may be introduced within the pad-bulb 10 and have an intimate contact with the inner surface of the flange 11. At a correct distance from the edge of the baseplate 12 said plate is raised into a semi-ovate form, so that when the base-plate is placed within the pad-bulb an oval chamber a is produced between the pad-bulb and the base- A holder-plate 13 is provided to secure the base-plate 12 upon the flange 11 of the padbulb 10. This holder-plate is a flat blank of metal or other available material and in contour is shaped essentially similar to that of the flange c on the base-plate 12. A series of perforations is formed in the flange c of the base-plate, and perforations are also produced in the flange 11 of the pad-bulb 10, as well as in the holder-plate 13, the spaced perforations in these parts being respectively alined to permit small bolts 0 to be inserted through the flange c of the base-plate and through the flange 11 and holder-plate 13, as shown in Fig. 2. The bolts 0 may have heads on their inner ends and should be rendered air and liquid tight where the heads bear upon the base-plate flange. The outer ends of the bolts are preferably furnished with nuts 0 which, when suitably adjusted, will clamp the plate 13 and flange c of the base-plate firmly upon the flange 11 of the pad-bulb 10,

and thus insure an air and liquid tight joint between the base-plate and the pad-bulb.

A tubular stem 14 extends from the outer side of the concavo convex portion of the base plate 12, and on the exterior surface of the stem a screw-thread is formed to receive the internal thread of the sealing cap 15, which is closed at its outer end and is preferably transversely kerfed at said end to receive a screw-driver.

The holder-plate 13 is perforated at a point which will permit the tubular stem 11 and sealing-cap 15 to project through said perforation and be concentric therewith, the defining-wall of the perforation in the holderplate 13 being threaded.

In the annular chamber produced between the pad-bulb and the base-plate 12 a valve (1 is located, and preferably said valve is car ried on one end portion of the spring-arm 16, secured at its opposite end upon a portion of the base-plate. The valve cl, which may be of any suitable material, is seated over the open end of the tubular stem 14 and is normally held thereon by the resilience of the spring-arm 16, so as to seal the passage in the stem. A sufficient length is afforded the stem 14: to permit it and the sealing-cap 15 to project near to the clamping-plate 17.

In practice it has been found very essential I that the com plete pad be secured upon the carrier-piece A of the truss band B in a manner which will permit the pad-bulb to be altered in position, so as to be adapted for contact in an advantageous manner with the rupture which it is to reduce. Furthermore, it is necessary for the perfect adjustment of the truss upon the person of a patient that simple and convenient means be afforded for an alteration of the position of the connection between the clasp on the end of the truss-band and the device that clamps the pad-bulb upon the carrier-piece A, so as to permit the point of greatest pressure of the pad-bulb to be exactly located at a desired point over the rupture to be treated.

The leading feature of this improvement has been devised to fully provide for the abovementioned requirements. This feature comprises the pad-clamping plate 17 and means for connecting the same with the padbulb, as will now be specifically described. The pad-clamping plate 17 consists of an elongated metal blank having parallel side edges and a series of depending teeth g formed along each side edge, these teeth extending from one end of the plate nearly to the opposite end of the same. The end of the pad-clamping plate 17 which is not furnished with teeth preferably has a depending flange h extended from it in the same direction as the teeth 9, and this flange is of nearly the same depth as the teeth g. As shown,

the flange h extends around the heel of the jects a suitable distance above the top surface of the plate.

A longitudinal slot It is formed in the center of said plate, which slot terminates at the end nearest to the stud 2' in a perforation m, that exceeds in diameter that of the sealingcap 15 on the tubular stem 14.

A sleeve-nut 18 is an essential feature of the invention and consists of a cylindrical body portion exteriorly threaded at and near the end which is innermost in service.

The outer diameter of the threaded body of the sleeve-nut 18 is such as will adapt it to have a threaded engagement with the threaded hole in the holder-plate 13. On the outer end of the sleeve-nut 18 a circumferential flange n is formed, and a cross-kerf n is cut in this end of the sleeve-nut. The body of the sleeve-nut 18 enters the perforation m in the pad-clamping plate 17 and passes loosely through until the flange n is seated upon the outer face of said plate, as shown in Fig. 2. In the shallow recess formed on the side of the plate 17 nearest to the part A of the trussband by the depending sets of teeth g and the flange h a clamping-bar 19 is located, said bar having a headed stud 0 projected from one side of the bar at a point which will per mit said stud to freely slide in the slot k in the plate 17.

Teeth p are formed on each end of the clamping-bar 19, and these teeth occupy spaces between the depending teeth 9, so that if the clamping-bar is drawn closely into contact with the adjacent surface of the plate 17 it will be locked in place.

It will also be evident that if the stud 0 is pressed upon so as to remove the teeth 10 from an engagement with the teeth-g of the clampin g-plate this will permitthe clamping-bar to be slid longitudinally of the clamping-plate 17 and be again interlocked therewithat a. desired point by clamping the toothed plate upon the carrier-piece A. An adj usting strap C is secured by one end on the free end of the truss-band l3 and is doubled up so that the loose end of said strap may be engaged with the buckle D on the truss-band. A latchloop 20 has one end loosely slid upon the strap 0 and its other end is adapted to hook upon the stud o.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 3 that the body of the stud 0 is flattened on one side at 0', which is adapted to engage loosely with one edge of the slot 76, whereby the stud and at-. tached clamping-bar 19 are prevented from rotating, while both are free to slide along the clamping-plate, as before. mentioned.

To assemble the parts of the truss, the padclamping plate 17 is located upon the outer face of the carrying portion A of the truss-' band B and thesleeve-nut 18 is inserted first through the perforation m, then through one of the perforations r in the end of the carrying portion A, and at its inner end the sleevenut is screwed into the threaded hole formed to receive it in the holder-plate 13, the bore of the sleeve-nut then encircling the cappiece 15 of the stem 14, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent that if the pad-clamping plate 17 is pressed upon the truss-band by an adjustment of the sleeve-nut 18 the said plate and the pad-bulb connected therewith may be held at any point of rotatable adjustment which may be necessary for the proper contact of the elastic pad-bulb 10 with the rupture it is to compress.

By the provision of the slidable and securable clamping-bar 19 the stud 0 may be slid and held at a proper point on the clampingplate 17, and thus throw the point of greatest compression of the pad-bulb 10 toward orfrom the maximum swell'of said bulb which is near one end of the same.-

The crotch-band E may be connected to the stud i by the latch-loop 21, said band serving to hold the pad from upward displacement, as is usual in this class of trusses. The perforations r should be so positioned in the portion A of the truss-band B that they will permit a change of adjustment to be effected in the pad of the truss to comply with such requirements as the nature of the rupture to be compressed may indicate.

The features of improvement that have been described greatly facilitate the accurate adjustment of the pad-bulb on the carrierpiece A by the patient, as the latter can readily alter the position of the bulb and the draft of the strap 0 by slacking the sleeve-nut 18 and subsequently tightening it by means of a screw-driver, so that the services of an ex pert may be dispensed with should an alteration of adjustment of the truss be necessary.

It will also be seen that if the pad-bulb is to be more or less inflated this can be eflected in a convenient manner without requiring a change of position of the bulb on the carrierp'iece A or any adjustment of the clampingplate 17, as the cap 15 may be readily removed from the stem let through the sleevenut 18, and thus permit the connection of the nozzle of a pump to the stem 14, said pump, by force of air or liquid it injects, actin g to raise the valve which controls the escape of air or liquid at the inner end of the tubular stem. The removal and replacement of the sealing-cap may be quickly effected by means of a screw-driver.

The features of improvement have been described in connection with an ovate inflatable pad-bulb, but it is manifest that the novel clamping-plate 17 may be adjustably held in engagement with an inflatable bulb of other form. In fact it may be generally applied to adjustably secure any kind of a pad-bulb upon the band of atruss. Hence I do not restrict the use of the improvements to-the pad-bulb herein shown and described.

I desire it to beunderstood that I do not claim herein certain features in the construction of the pad-bulb proper for the reason that such features form the subject-matter of an earlier application for patent filed by me February 27, 1897, Serial No. 625,292.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a perforated trussband, a pad-bulb, a hollow stem projecting from the bulb toward and into the perforation in the band, and a self-closing valve in said bulb controlling the opening in the stem, of a clamping-plate for the pad-bulb, adjustably held on the band, and means for clamping the plate upon the truss-band, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a perforated trussband, a pad-bulb'thereon, and a tubular stem extended from the base-plate of the pad-bulb toward the perforation in the truss-band, of a clamping-plate having teeth depending from its side edges, said plate being also longitudinally slotted between said edges, the slot intersecting an aperture in said clampingplate, a flanged sleeve-nut passing loosely through the aperture in the clamping-plate and contacting its flange with the plate, a perforated holder-plate on the pad-bulb, with which plate said sleeve nut has engagement,

a fixed headed stud on one end of the clamping-plate, a slidable clamping-bar on the clampingplate, having teeth at its ends adapted to interlock with the teeth on the clamping-plate, and a stud projected from the clamping-bar through the slot in the clamping-plate, substantially as described.

3. In a truss, the combination with apadbulb, a perforated truss-band, and a padclamping plate having a longitudinal slot therein, of a clamping-bar engaging with and adjustable on the clamping-plate and carrying a headed stud, the body of said stud bein g slidable in the slot of the clamping-plate, and means for securing the pad-clamping plate upon the truss-band, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a perforated trussband, of an inflatable pad-bulb, a hollow stem projecting from said bulb toward the perforation in the band, a sealing-cap on said stem, a perforated clamping-plate, and a flanged sleeve-nut extending through the clamping-plate and the perforation in the truss-band, said sleeve-nut having a threaded engagement with a fixed plate on the padbulb and receiving the sealing-cap of the hollow stem, substantially as described.

5. In a truss, the combination with a perforated truss-band, of an inflatable pad-bulb,

a tubular stem projecting from the bulb, com-v municating with achamber in the pad-bulb and extending toward the perforation in the truss-band, a sealing-cap on the outer end of the tubular stem, a clampingplate seated on the truss-band and having-aperforation, and

a flanged sleeve-nut passing loosely through the perforation in the clampingplate and through the truss-band, concentrically to the cap on the tubular stern, said sleeve-nut havin gthreaded engagement Withathreaded perforation in a fixed plate on the pad-bulb, substantially as described.

6. In a truss, the combination with a trussband, of an elastic pad bulb, inflatable through a tubular stem that projects from a base-plate of the pad-bulb toward the trussband, a sealing-cap on the said tubular stem, an elongated toothed plate seated on the truss-band oppositely from the pad-bulb, means for clamping the bulb and plate upon the truss-band through a perforation therein, said toothed plate being perforated and longitudinally slotted, the perforation permitting access to the sealing-cap for its adjustment, a transverse clamping-bar engaging its ends with the teeth on the clamping-plate,

and a headed stud projecting from said clamping-bar through the longitudinal slot in the toothed plate and movable therein, substantially as described.

7. In a truss of the character described, a.- clamping-plate for the pad-bulb, consisting of an elongated blank having series of depending teeth on its side edges, and a central longitudinal slot intersecting an aperture at 30 one end of said slot, a fixed headed stud near one end of the clamping-plate, a transversely disposed clamping-bar having teeth on each end that may interlock with the teeth on the. clamping-plate, and a headed'stud on said 35 clamping-bar which projects through the slot in the clamping-plate, substantially as described.

GEORGE V. HOUSE.

Witnesses:

J NO. M. BITTER, WM. P. PATToN. 

